so, a quick review for a new class A owner.
Heating options (in addition to dash heat) while traveling
1. turn inverter on and run electric space heater ( do I need to turn on generator while traveling, too?)

2. Turn on elec heat pump heat (does this need the generator to be on?)

3. Turn on propance furnace
Thanks

1. I guess I would not turn on the inverter if you are running the generator. You should have 110V power at the outlets regardless so depleting the batteries to have the generator charge them seems redundant. I am still too new to this but would the inverter even come on with the generator running. I just don't know. Still a novice at this.
2. My electric heat pump doesn't work with the furnace. I think it is an either/or situation. Either the heat pump or the furnace.
3. This is the one I plan to utilize.

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1. I guess I would not turn on the inverter if you are running the generator. You should have 110V power at the outlets regardless so depleting the batteries to have the generator charge them seems redundant. I am still too new to this but would the inverter even come on with the generator running. I just don't know. Still a novice at this.
2. My electric heat pump doesn't work with the furnace. I think it is an either/or situation. Either the heat pump or the furnace.
3. This is the one I plan to utilize.

Most controls have either the heat pump or the furnace as an option. Some of them mine at least if you select heat pump and the temp gets below about 30 degrees outside it automatically switches to the furnace.

Enokie - I know exactly what you are talking about the clothes but I have had motor homes before just never a DP. It was shocking how little heat is produced from the dash even though it is producing a lot of heat at the dash. I was wearing a jacket but I left my gloves in car not thinking it would be any big deal. The car was following behind me about an hour so it was of no value to wait for it. It's still cold. We were picking up the MH from warranty work so I had no clothes in it to stop and put on so it was a miserable drive. It was not as cold then as it is now and I refuse to drive the MH wearing Carharts, gloves and hood. The temperature is close to zero here now so an all day drive would be a miserable drive. I figured there had to be a better way which is why I posted here. I was fearful of firing up the furnace so I tolerated it for a couple of hours until I could get a better solution. Not doing that ride again.

Alan

Sorry for my misunderstanding of the situation, I had no idea that a DP had so little heat. Learn something new every day!!

It has been brutal this past week with a couple of days at -41C (-40 F) so I can understand your dislike of the cold ...intimately!

I use an oil filled coil heater by Longehni (sp) and it is amazing how warm it keeps my 5er even in the grueling cold ...runs on power and you can choose 500, 900 or 1500. might be worth a look they are very effective.

I have not done this, but if the day before you hit the road, you turned on the heat and got the interior all warmed up to 70 degrees (create a thermal mass) will the dash heat not hold the temp once on the highway?

I get that it is an awfull lot to get warmed up, but once there I would hope it would maintain a comfortable temp?

Sorry for my misunderstanding of the situation, I had no idea that a DP had so little heat. Learn something new every day!! It has been brutal this past week with a couple of days at -41C (-40 F) so I can understand your dislike of the cold ...intimately! I use an oil filled coil heater by Longehni (sp) and it is amazing how warm it keeps my 5er even in the grueling cold ...runs on power and you can choose 500, 900 or 1500. might be worth a look they are very effective. Keep warm, happy trails, and keep a sweater handy....

Not a problem at all. I sure didn't know myself and I just could not believe it. I will take a look at the heater but I doubt I will get anything. The furnace really does a good job and heats it up pretty quickly. I am also surprised at how long the LP is lasting. Thanks for contributing!

Alan

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Counting down the days until our next great adventure!

I have not done this, but if the day before you hit the road, you turned on the heat and got the interior all warmed up to 70 degrees (create a thermal mass) will the dash heat not hold the temp once on the highway? I get that it is an awfull lot to get warmed up, but once there I would hope it would maintain a comfortable temp? L.

It is funny you mention this as I was considering this myself. We live in a condo so doing this in our driveway is not possible as the MH is 40' and the drive is about 25'. They also have rules to follow. Can't have the Mh on the street for more than 2 hrs and only to load/unload it. Yes it is a pain but when I got up the other morning at 4 AM and the temperature was 4 degrees the drive and sidewalk had already been cleared, That is a nice feeling. Even happens when we are not home. We have a shopping center a few blocks away and I have been considering parking there, with permission, and spending the night before we leave in it so it could be warm. I don't think I would leave it unattended. DW says I would burn as much fuel overnight as I would all day traveling. I can't argue that I guess but it sure would be nice start the day warm! LOL!

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Counting down the days until our next great adventure!

I live in Michigan and head south after Christmas. It can be brutal in Michigan and Indiana in January!! I'm on my 3rd Class A. The first was a 1995 Cobra Monterey with a big Ford gas V8. Plenty of dash heat!! No problem!! The second was a 1999 Holiday Rambler Endeavor diesel pusher (37'). I nearly froze to death with severe hypothermia relying on the dash heat. On that trip I gave up and ran the furnace. The issue is a two-fold problem; 1) not enough heat to begin with, and 2) very poor insulation / excessive heat loss. Firstly, the engine is more 30' from the heater core. Secondly, diesels run cool, typically about 175F where as a gas engine may run over 200F (I replaced the thermostat but no effect). Thirdly, the front end of these pushers are poorly insulated. I have made improvements by removing internal corner post trim and insulated with fiberglass wool as there is NO insulation whatsoever in these corner posts. I also used 'Great Stuff' expanding foam and sealed cable penetrations and other 'holes' where raw cold air entered, and I added additional foam board on the firewall and in the door. Taking apart the door is a big job. I like the idea of a curtain behind the cockpit, but my wife won't hear of it. A word about typical dash controls. In all settings, except MAX A/C, outside air crosses the heater core. So you suck fresh, freezing air across a luke-warm heater core. Not good. Only in 'MAX A/C' will a damper close allowing recirculation of cabin air. In this setting, you have a chance of making ground. On the '99 Endeavor' I installed an old auto dash control allowing control of this damper in all settings other than 'MAX A/C'. On the 2005, I am setting the control to MAX A/C (which closes the damper and allows recirculation), and setting the temp knob to max heat. It seems to be working well at that setting with good hot dash air. But, this will still not keep up with loss of heat around the door and massive windshield, so I run the furnace set at about 60F. Sorry for the long reply. Hope it helps.

I live in Michigan and head south after Christmas. It can be brutal in Michigan and Indiana in January!! I'm on my 3rd Class A. The first was a 1995 Cobra Monterey with a big Ford gas V8. Plenty of dash heat!! No problem!! The second was a 1999 Holiday Rambler Endeavor diesel pusher (37'). I nearly froze to death with severe hypothermia relying on the dash heat. On that trip I gave up and ran the furnace. The issue is a two-fold problem; 1) not enough heat to begin with, and 2) very poor insulation / excessive heat loss. Firstly, the engine is more 30' from the heater core. Secondly, diesels run cool, typically about 175F where as a gas engine may run over 200F (I replaced the thermostat but no effect). Thirdly, the front end of these pushers are poorly insulated. I have made improvements by removing internal corner post trim and insulated with fiberglass wool as there is NO insulation whatsoever in these corner posts. I also used 'Great Stuff' expanding foam and sealed cable penetrations and other 'holes' where raw cold air entered, and I added additional foam board on the firewall and in the door. Taking apart the door is a big job. I like the idea of a curtain behind the cockpit, but my wife won't hear of it. A word about typical dash controls. In all settings, except MAX A/C, outside air crosses the heater core. So you suck fresh, freezing air across a luke-warm heater core. Not good. Only in 'MAX A/C' will a damper close allowing recirculation of cabin air. In this setting, you have a chance of making ground. On the '99 Endeavor' I installed an old auto dash control allowing control of this damper in all settings other than 'MAX A/C'. On the 2005, I am setting the control to MAX A/C (which closes the damper and allows recirculation), and setting the temp knob to max heat. It seems to be working well at that setting with good hot dash air. But, this will still not keep up with loss of heat around the door and massive windshield, so I run the furnace set at about 60F. Sorry for the long reply. Hope it helps.

Wow! Even the thought of running on MAX AC just sounds awful but the reasoning behind it sounds solid. My MH does have huge bra on the front but I have no idea if that helps or not. I am going to run the furnace! Lol!

Alan

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Counting down the days until our next great adventure!

I have a 2005 mountain aire and feel heat coming out in the rear section but never hear a furnace come on? Is it heated using heat strips or propane? I bought it used in August but not familiar with everything yet.

We installed a curtain behind the driver/passenger seats. Camping world has a plastic runner with slides that is screwed to the roof and my better half sewed a curtain to the slides. This curtain keeps us warm using dash heat when temps are above freezing and cool in the summer when dash air is used. The runner and curtain looks like it is original equipment (if fabric and colors blend in).